Three South Jersey schools apply for teacher evaluation pilot program

Three South Jersey school districts could take part in a state-wide pilot program aimed at developing a new teacher evaluation system.

The New Jersey School Board Association (NJSBA) announced Wednesday that the West Deptford, Swedesboro Woolwich and Woodstown-Pilesgrove are among the 31 districts that have applied to the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) Teacher Evaluation Pilot Program.

The program will advance the recommendations released by Gov. Chris Christie’s Task Force on Educator Effectiveness this March. I includes development of a new teacher evaluation system based on student learning, measuring student achievement by student growth and school-wide performance, and evaluating teacher practices using new 2011 InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards.

“The ultimate goal of teacher evaluation is to support the individual growth and success of each teacher,” said Kristin O’Neil, West Deptford’s director of curriculum and instruction.

Only nine schools will be selected and between them, will share in $1.1 million in grants to help design the new evaluation system and provide regular feedback to the NJDOE on the pilot system’s progress. Districts must follow specific implementation requirements but will be given flexibility to develop certain elements of their own within the parameters provided. The project year is Sept. 1, 2011 through Sept. 30, 2012.

“It is expected that the implementation of a statewide teacher evaluation system is imminent and being a part of this particular pilot experience would help the district to be prepared for this requirement,” said O’Neil.

West Deptford Board of Education President Christopher Strano agreed, wondering who wouldn’t want to be a part of the program.

“If there’s going to be a program like this implemented, we want to have say in how it’s going to be done,” he said.

In Swedesboro Woolwich, Board of Education President Jennifer Cavallaro is also looking forward to the benefits of such a program.

“Knowing there are these reforms happening, it’s much more advantageous to be apart of the process than just be the recipient of the product,” she said of any future legislation.

Woodstown-Pilesgrove’s Superintendent Thomas Coleman said he has been looking into a new teacher evaluation system since last year, so, he said, he thinks the district is well-positioned to participate.

“We’re excited, and hopefully we’ll be a part of it,” he said. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

According to NJSBA Spokesman Michael Yaple, if this pilot program develops into legislation, it will be first time teachers will not receive a raise based solely on their contracts, but on their performances.

“The first step to changing our system is to have measure of teacher effectiveness,” he said. “It (the program) looks at performance the same way performances are evaluated in other jobs,” he said. “We’re starting to head in the right direction— teacher evaluations are the centerpiece of tenure reform.”

NJDOE Spokesperson Allison Kobus said selected schools will be notified this month.